Hockey Card Game

ABSTRACT

A card game kit and a method of playing a card game with the card game kit is disclosed herein. The card game kit is configured for play by between 2-4 players. The card game kit includes at least one deck of cards and a center board. Further, the card game includes a hockey game theme whereby a player can score goals by matching cards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of card games of existing art and more specifically relates to a matching card game.

RELATED ART

A card game is a game utilizing playing cards as the primary means with which the game is played. Card games are played with a deck of playing cards. A standard deck of playing cards has four suits: spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds; and each suit has thirteen cards of the usual ranks of 2 through 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. The playing cards each include a face side and a rear side. Typically, the rear side of each playing card is the same, and card games often use this fact as part of the game so that each player knows only the cards they hold and not those held by anyone else.

Matching card games are popular forms of card games. Matching card games require players to match features on the face side of the card. Some of the most popular matching card games are the Rummy family of card games and UNO® card games. Since these card games, attempts have been made to bring new matching card games to the public, however, matching card games in the prior art do not possess staying power in the market as they are often unable to offer anything new or exciting. As such, a suitable solution is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known matching card game art, the present disclosure provides a novel hockey card game. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a card game including a hockey game theme, whereby a player is able to score goals by matching cards.

A card game kit is disclosed herein. The card game kit may be used for playing a card game for play by at least two players. The card game kit may include at least one deck of cards, each card from the at least one deck of cards including a face side and a rear side. Further, a center board may be provided. The center board may be configured to replicate ice—particularly, the center board may be configured to replicate at least a section of an ice hockey rink.

According to another embodiment, a method of playing the card game for play by at least two players is also disclosed herein. The method may include: providing the card game kit as above; determining a home player and at least one away player from the at least two players; dealing a first predetermined number of cards from the at least one card deck to the home player and positioning each card face side down such that the face side indicia is hidden from the at least one away player; dealing a second predetermined number of cards from the at least one card deck to the at least one away player and positioning each card face side down such that the face side indicia is hidden from the home player; positioning a third predetermined number of cards from the at least one deck of cards on the center board such that the face side is viewable by both the home player and the at least one away player, each face side indicia positioned on the center board being unalike; and playing the card game.

Whereby playing the card game may include the home player holding the first predetermined number of cards with face side out of view from at least one away player, and trying to match the face side indicia of at least one card from the first predetermined number of cards to the face side indicia on a card from the third predetermined number of cards; and the at least one away player holding the second predetermined number of cards with face side out of view from the home player, and trying to match the face side indicia of at least one card from the second predetermined number of cards to the face side indicia on a card from the third predetermined number of cards.

A first-match from either one of the home player and the at least one away player may result in an opportunity to score a point. To score the point a second-match may be made. A non-match may result in re-dealing the first predetermined number of cards and the second predetermined number of cards.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a hockey card game, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the hockey card game, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a card game kit according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the card game kit demonstrating players cards having been dealt, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the card game kit demonstrating positioning of cards on a center board, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the card game kit card game kit demonstrating play of the hockey card game, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the card game kit demonstrating play of the hockey card game, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a card game and more particularly to a hockey card game as used to improve matching card games and to provide a matching card game including a hockey game theme, whereby a player can score goals by matching cards.

Generally, play of the hockey card game may begin with a cut of a deck of cards; high card may be home team and first dealer of the hockey card game. The home team may then deal out four alternating playing cards face down to each player. Four cards from a top of the deck of cards may be flipped up on a center ice board such that all players can view a face side of each of the four cards. No two cards may include the same face side. Further, wildcards, or jacks may be excluded from a beginning of the hockey card game. Once no cards on the center ice board match, remaining cards may be shuffled back into the deck of cards. Unmatched cards on the center ice board may indicate start of the hockey card game. Every period may start this way.

To play the hockey card game, players may hold up their cards so that other players are unable to see the face side thereof. A visiting team may lead with their first card and try to match a top center card for an opportunity to clear the center ice board and “score”. If the card doesn't match, play may continue with the home team taking their turn. Once all four cards on the center ice board are played with no matches, the home team may deal out four more cards to each player. Once a match is made or a Jack/wild card is used, the center ice board is cleared and thus, may open the center ice board for a chance to “score”. This may be called a “clear” or a “breakaway opportunity”.

Once the center ice board is cleared, matching a next played card by an opponent constitutes a “goal scored”. The player who made the match to the next played card may then collect the same and place aside to count once the hockey card game is complete. Each player may keep track of their scores on a score keeping means, such as a piece of paper.

The hockey card game may include three periods and overtime if needed. Once a period is completed, a remaining card from that period may not be carried over to the next. After a first period is completed, the visiting team may take their turn to deal. The home team may deal again for a third period. If overtime is played, “sudden death” whereby first goal wins, may determine a winner.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-6, various views of a card game kit 100 for playing a card game for play by at least two players and a method 500 of playing the card game for play by the at least two players. Preferably, the card game may be for play by the at least two players and up to four players. As above, the card game may include a hockey game theme, whereby a player can “score” by matching cards. The method 500 of playing the card game, as shown in the flowchart in FIG. 1, may include providing 501 a card game kit 100; determining 502 a home player and at least one away player from the at least two players; dealing 503 a first predetermined number of cards 141; dealing 504 a second predetermined number of cards 143; positioning 505 a third predetermined number of cards 145 on a center board 120; and playing 506 the card game.

In some embodiments, the card game may be played electronically, such as via a smartphone application, website, electronic game board, etc. (not illustrated). In this embodiment, the card game kit 100 may be provided within application software. The method 500 of playing the card game in these embodiments may include providing the application software being downloadable or accessible via an electronic device such as a smartphone, tablet computer, desktop computer, etc.; and further providing a server, a memory and a processor in communication with the software application and the electronic device, the memory storing card game kit 100 files, instructions, and the like.

Specifically, the card game kit 100 may include at least one deck of cards 110 and the center board 120. As above, the card game may be configured to represent the hockey game. As such, the center board 120 may be configured to replicate ice. Particularly, the center board 120 may be configured to replicate at least a section of an ice hockey rink. The center board 120 may be made from a smooth material such as plastic, glass, etc. or paper, cardboard, etc. Further, in some embodiments, the card game kit 100 may include a game board 140. The card game may be played atop the game board 140. Preferably, the game board 140 may be foldable for easy and compact storage. For example, the game board may be folded into four equal pieces. In some embodiments, the card game kit 100 may include means for sounding a siren (not illustrated). For example, the game board 140 may include speakers for sounding the siren when a goal is scored. The speakers may alternatively or also be included in the center board 120, or provided separately in the card game kit 100.

In addition, at least one score-keeping board 130 may be provided with the card game kit 100 and configured to keep scores during play of the card game. In some embodiments, each player may have their own score-keeping board 130 or there may be one central score-keeping board for all players to use. The score-keeping board 130 may be paper, cardboard, dry-erase board, chalkboard, electronic, etc. In addition to this, the card game kit 100 may include instructions for playing and setting up play of the card game. The instructions may be provided in different languages, specifically English and French.

The at least one deck of cards 110 may be a standard deck of 52 cards. The at least one deck of cards 110 may include at least a predetermined number of jacks 114, and in some embodiments, a predetermined number of queens and a predetermined number of kings (not illustrated). The predetermined number of jacks 114 may be four jacks, the predetermined number of queens may be four queens and the predetermined number of kings may be four kings. Further, the at least one deck of cards 110 may include a predetermined number of wild cards 117. Preferably, the predetermined number of wild cards 117 may be the predetermined number of jacks 114. As such, in some embodiments, the predetermined number of wild cards 117 may be four wild cards 117. Wild cards 117 may be used for clearing the center board 120 or used for an opportunity to score.

Each card from the at least one deck of cards 110 may include a face side 111 and a rear side 112, the face side 111 including face side indicia 113. Preferably, the face side indicia 113 may include a number indicia 118 and a pattern indicia 119. For example, the pattern indicia 119 may be categorized by spades, hearts, diamonds or clubs. Each category of pattern indicia 119 may include at least 13 cards with different number indicia. For example, the spades pattern indicia 119 may include Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen and king, and likewise with the hearts, diamonds and clubs pattern indicia 119.

As above, the home player and the at least one away player may be determined from the at least two players. This may be achieved by ‘cutting’ the at least one deck of cards 110. To ‘cut’ the at least one deck of cards 110, each player may remove a pile containing a certain number of cards from a main pile of the at least one deck of cards 110. In some embodiments, prior to the ‘cutting’ of the at least one deck of cards 110, the at least one deck of cards 110 may be shuffled at least once. Each player then may then read the number indicia 118 from a bottom card on their pile removed from the main pile, and whichever player has the highest number may become the home player. The home player may then become a card dealer for a first round of the card game. The home player and the at least one away player may alternate turns being the card dealer thereafter.

The card dealer may deal the first predetermined number of cards 141 from the at least one deck of cards 110 to the home player and position each card face side down such that the face side indicia 113 is hidden from the at least one away player; and similarly, they may deal the second predetermined number of cards 143 from the at least one deck of cards 110 to the at least one away player and position each card face side down such that the face side indicia 113 is hidden from home player. Preferably, the first predetermined number of cards 141 may be a first four cards and the second predetermined number of cards 143 may be a second four cards.

The card dealer may then position the third predetermined number of cards 145 from the at least one deck of cards 110 on the center board 120 such that the face side 111 is viewable by both the home player and the at least one away player. Before play is started, each face side indicia 113 positioned on the center board 120 must be unalike. As such, the card dealer may keep dealing cards and positioning them on the center board 120 until the third predetermined number of cards 145 are all unalike in face side indicia 113. Any cards from the third predetermined number of cards 145 that match may be re-inserted into the at least one deck of cards 110 and shuffled at least once. In some embodiments, once a card is laid, it must be considered played.

Preferably, the third predetermined number of cards 145 may be a third four cards. The first predetermined number of cards, 141 the second predetermined number of cards 143 and the third predetermined number of cards 145 may be an equal number.

Once each player has their predetermined number of cards, and the third predetermined number of cards 145 are positioned on the center board 120 and unalike, play of the card game may begin. The home player may hold the first predetermined number of cards 141 with face side 111 out of view from at least one away player 104. Simultaneously, the at least one away player 104 may hold the second predetermined number of cards 143 with face side 111 out of view from the home player.

The home player may try to match the face side indicia 113 of at least one card from the second predetermined number of cards 143 to the face side indicia 113 on a card from the third predetermined number of cards 145. Likewise, the at least one away player may try to match the face side indicia 113 of at least one card from the second predetermined number of cards 143 to the face side indicia 113 on a card from the third predetermined number of cards 145. In some embodiments, the at least one away player may go first in trying to match their first played card from the second predetermined number of cards 143 to a top center card from the third predetermined number of cards 145. If the first played card is not a match, the home player may then try to match their first played card from the first predetermined number of cards 141. If no matches are made, both players use their next played card in trying to match another card from the third predetermined number of cards 145.

A match of face side indicia 113 may preferably be a match of both pattern indicia 119 and number indicia 118. For example, the home player may have hearts pattern indicia 119 with a 10 number indicia 118 (10 of hearts) in their first predetermined number of cards 141, and as such, to match that card the third predetermined number of cards 145 would need to also have a 10 of hearts. However, in some embodiments, a match may include either a match of the pattern indicia 119 or the number indicia 118.

A first-match from either one of the home player or the at least one away player may result in an opportunity to score a point. To score the point a second-match must be made. A non-match may result in re-dealing the first predetermined number of cards 141 and the second predetermined number of cards 143 until a first-match is made.

The first-match may be made by a scoring player from one of the home player and the at least one away player, in that once either the home player or the at least one away player make the first-match, they become the scoring player. As such, the player who did not make the first-match becomes the opposing player. The second-match may then be made when the scoring player matches face side indicia 113 of a card to face side indicia 113 on a card from the opposing player. For example, in the example given above, if the home player matches the 10 of hearts to the 10 of hearts in the third predetermined number of cards 145 on the center board 120 (the first-match), the home player (as the scoring player) then has an opportunity to score the point by matching another one of their first predetermined number of cards 141 to a card from the at least one away players (the opposing player) second predetermined number of cards 143. If a match is made (the second-match), then the home player scores the point. The home player may then take the matched card from the at least one away player and set it aside for counting after the game is completed. A winner may be determined by who has taken the most cards from the other player.

The play of the card game may be split into three periods. The three periods may be split by time, or other factors such as when a certain amount of non-matches, or matches have happened. The home player may be the card dealer in a first period, the at least one away player may be the card dealer in a second period, and the home player may become the card dealer again in a third period. In some embodiments, the play of the card game may further include an overtime period. The play of the card game may go into the overtime period if there is no clear winner after the three periods. For example, if the home player and the at least one away player draw on points scored, the overtime period is played. In some embodiments, the overtime period may include a sudden death round. In the sudden death round, first player to score a point results in a win of the overall card game.

It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for playing the card game are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A card game kit for playing card game for play by at least two players, the card game kit comprising: at least one deck of cards, each card from the at least one deck of cards including a face side and a rear side, the face side including face side indicia, the face side indicia including number indicia and pattern indicia, the at least one deck of cards including a predetermined number of wild cards; a center board, the center board configured to replicate ice; and at least one score-keeping board a siren configured to emit sound when a goal is scored and a plurality of speakers for sounding the siren when a goal is scored.
 21. The card game of claim 20, wherein at least one of the plurality of speakers is affixed to the center board.
 22. The card game of claim 20, wherein at least one of the plurality of speakers is affixed to at least one of the at least one of the score-keeping board. 